USA > New York > Niagara County > Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of Niagara County, New York > Part 70
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HENRY HOMEYER, of North Tona- wanda, is well and favorably known all over this part of the great State of New
York. He is of German extraction, and was born in the town of Wheatfield, in 1855. He is a son of Henry and Frederica ( Bishop ) Homeyer. Henry Homeyer (father) was a native of Germany, and was a Hanoverian. He came to the United States in 1841, locating in the town of Wheatfield, where he followed farming until May, 1869, when he moved to Nortlı Tonawanda and engaged in hotel keeping continuously until his death, which occurred in July, 1880. He built the hotel where his son now resides, and at his death was in his fiftieth year. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and a democrat in politics. He had held the offices of town collector, overseer of the poor, and trustee of the village of North Tonawanda. Frederick Bishop (maternal grandfather) was a native of Germany, and came to the United States in 1841, locating in the town of Wheat- field. Mrs. Homeyer came to this country with her parents when a child, and now resides in the town of Tonawanda, in the sixty-first year of her age. She and the race from which she sprang are devout disciples of Martin Luther, and imbibed the spirit of Protestant reformation from her parents, who doubtless left their native country because of religious persecution. Frederick Bishop followed farming in Wheatfield town until his deatlı, in 1873, in lis seventy-fourth year. He was a Lutheran, and in politics à democrat.
Henry Homeyer was reared and educated in the public schools of Wheatfield and North Tonawanda until he arrived at his majority, when he embarked in the buteher- ing business, and after seven years' trial, he took charge of the same hotel his father had carried on for many years, and has been very successful.
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
In 1880 Mr. Homeyer married Helena, daughter of John Meyer, of Tonawanda, Erie county. To Mr. and Mrs. Homeyer have been born five children, two sons and three daughters: George, Henry, Mabel, Laura, and Helena.
He is a member of the Fredens church, of North Tonawanda, and is one of the trustees. He is a member of the Aneient Order of United Workmen, and the Select Knights. He is a member of the Columbia Hook and Ladder company of this eity, and is the only surviving charter member. He has served as town and village colleetor for two terms in each office; also two terms in the city council, and a part of a term in the custom house, but was relieved on ac- count of his politics by the administration of President Harrison. Mr. Homeyer is a democrat in principle, and takes great in- terest in the party, its poliey, and its states- nien. He is a democrat because that party extended a warm welcome to the early foreign settlers, and reduced the period of time that a foreigner had to reside in the eountry before attaining citizenship from fourteen to five years' residence. He is a elever entertainer, and has enough of the elever German in him to make him hos- itable and agreeable.
B' YRON C. STANTON, an old en- - gineer, and a man of sturdy, honest and steady habits, is a son of Warren and Martha J. (Cooper) Stanton, and was born October 16, 1847, in the village of Pekin, Niagara county, New York. His grand- father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and lived to be a very old man. He was of French extraction. Warren Stanton (father ) was born at Big Tree, near Buf-
falo. He married Martha J. Cooper, by whom he had a family of ten children, three sons and seven daughters: Augustus, is married, and lives in Michigan; Martha J., married David Evans, a tanner, who resides at North Tonawanda, this State; Orilla; Julia A., married Nathan Briggs, a farmer of Pekin, and died, leaving two sons-John, now a conductor on the Erie railroad, and James, a brakeman on the same road; William, a resident of the city of Buffalo; Mary L., married Amos Jacobs, an engineer on the Nickel Plate railroad; Byron C., whose name heads this sketch, married Emma L. Lyon, and now lives on the old homestead; Sophia, married Wil- liam MeDonald (formerly a lake steward, running between Chicago and Buffalo), and has one daughter; and Kate, who mar- ried Archie Douglass, an engineer on the New York Central railroad, who resides at Lyons, and has one son. The tenth child was a daughter, who died in infancy.
Byron C. Stanton wedded Emma J. Lyon. To their union was born a family of three children, one son and two daughters : Gracia C., Laura J., and Seeley I., all living at home with their parents. Mrs. Stanton's father was a native of Massachusetts, and was born September 26, 1799. IIer grandfather Lyon came to this county at a very early day, purchased land from the Holland Land Company, built a log cabin, and underwent all the privations that usually fall to the lot of pioneers. In politics he was first a whig, and later a republican. On February 23, 1826, he married Laura Baker, by whom he had ten children : Lucy, born December 21, 1826, married Edwin Roberts, by whom she had five children, and died March 25, 1859; Ruth P., married James Carr, a bridge builder of Pekin; Seeley B., now deceased,
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who married Louisa Clark, and resided at San Francisco, California; Hattie E., mar- ried Frank Dodge, of Sanborn, and has two sons and a daughter; Ann E., born April 24, 1836, and died January 20, 1856; Laura A., married John T. Bamsman, has one daughter, and resides at Alameda, California ; Samuel, born September 27, 1841, died Oc- tober 6, same year; Josephine D., married Henry Bobst, a manufacturer of Toledo, Ohio, and has one daughter; Mary A., married Henry Clark, and resides in the city of Buffalo; and one who died in infancy.
In politics Byron C. Stanton is a straight republican, and gives his party a vigorous and intelligent support on all leading issues. Hc is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He has been in the employ of the railroad for a period of twenty-one years, during fifteen of which he served as en- gineer. In all that time he has taken but two vacations. His education was received at home, and has been supplemented by reading and study in later years. He is a plain, blunt, honest man, and can always be relied on to do his duty, and do it well. In all the years he has been on the road he has never killed but one man, and that one threw himself on the track in front of the train, and was mangled before the engine could be reversed. Mr. Stanton is known as a man whose word is as good as his bond, and takes rank among the solid and substantial citizens of Niagara county.
A LBERT H. DALEY, a highly re- spected citizen and a representative farmer of Niagara county, is one of that class of men who win success and honorable standing in life through their own energy
and individual merit. He is a son of Samuel C. and Mary (Brownell) Daley, and was born in the town of Waterloo, Seneca county, New York, on March 27, 1833. His grandfather, Russell Daley, married Abbie Smith, and reared a family of four children, three sons and one daughter : (1) Samuel C. (father) ; (2) John S., married Charity Mosur, by whom he had three children -Dimmus, Libbie, and John S .; Dimmus is married, resides in Cattaraugus county, and has five children -James, Russell, Abbie, Bert, and Walt; (3) Darastus, is married and has one child -Olive, and is a farmer, residing at Yorkshire Corners, Cattaraugus county, this State. Samuel C. Daley (father) was born in the town of Waterloo, this State, October 16, 1816. He removed to Cattaraugus county, from thence to New Fane, Niagara county, for a brief period, and then to Hartland, this county, where he resided three years, at the expiration of which time he returned to New Fane, where he remained five years. He then came to the town of Lockport, this county, settling on Tona- wanda creek, where he remained for one year, and then sold out and moved to the town of Pendleton, where he resided sixteen years. He then went to the town of Marietta, Erie county, where he remained but a short time, then to the village of Marietta, and finally to the farm on whichi he now resides, in the eastern part of the town of Sanborn. In politics he was formerly a whig, but when that party dissolved he became a republican, and has always been an active man in the party ranks. He married Mary Brownell.
Albert II. Daley was reared on the farm, and attended the schools of his neighbor- hood. He has followed farming as an occu- pation all his life, and has one hundred
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
acres of choice land, which is under a high state of cultivation, located on the Lockport road, two and one-half miles from the village of Sanborn. This farm is well watered, and has commodious farm buildings, a large res- idence, and is supplied with good fences.
February 15, 1859, Mr. Daley was married to Laura Miller. To Mr. and Mrs. Daley have been born two children : Mary M., who married William Hall, a farmer of the town of Cambria, where they reside, on February 14, 1888, and they have one child, Ada; and Charles E., who was married November 26, 1891, to Jennie Wood. Mrs. Daley's parents were Harvey and Matilda Miller, the latter being born in Massachusetts in 1801, and was of good New England stock.
In politics Mr. Daley has always been a republican, and has never wavered in his . support of the principles and policy of the Republican party. He has been elected justice of the peace for a period of four years, and has discharged the duties with fidelity and honesty. He is a member of the Equitable Aid Union, and stands well in the community in which he resides.
G EORGE B. TAYLOR, the well known
fruit evaporator of former years, and now the popular hotel keeper and justice of the peace of Johnson's Creek, is a brother of Abram Taylor, in whose sketch his an- cestral history is given. He was born at Johnson's Creek, Niagara county, New York, August 13, 1828. IIe was reared on the old homestead, and received his educa- tion in the common schools. In 1876 he engaged in the fruit evaporating business at Johnson's Creek, Oakfield, Genesee county, Ridgeway, Orleans county, Genoa, Cayuga county, and Gasport, Niagara county, all in
New York; and also in the State of Michigan, and Appleton City, Missouri. IIe was the originator of this business in western New York, and started the second dryer in the State. He managed his business well, but owing to the depreciation in property he lost twenty-five thousand dollars, and then in 1889 quit the business. IIe owns one-half of the old homestead -sixty acres, and is the proprietor of the only hotel at Johnson's Creek.
February 14, 1854, he married Amelia H. Crocker, daughter of William and Lucretia (Brown) Crocker, of Leroy, Genesee county, this State, and by this marriage had a family of four children : William II., born Febru- ary 12, 1855, married Zella Drum, and re- sides at Johnson's Creek. IIe is also a fruit evaporator, and is engaged in that business at Quincy, Florida; Flowerville, Michigan, and at Johnson's Creek, in all making a financial success ; George B., Jr., born July 27, 1857, married Hattie Mowers, and re- sides at Johnson's Creek. He is a farmer, and owns a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres at Sandy Creek, Orleans county ; Jacob S., born May 9, 1862, married Mary Mead, and resides at Johnson's Creek, farming the old homestead ; and Mattie L., born May 1, 1865, married Burt Montgomery, who owns an interest in a basket manufactory at Ravenna, Ohio, where he resides.
In politics he is a well known and prom- inent democrat, always an enthusiastic and ardent worker for the success of his party. Ile was elected justice of the peace in 1874, and held that office for eight years. In 1875 he was elected supervisor of the town of Hartland for one year, and in 1890 was re-elected a justice of the peace, which office he nows hold. He was also elected justice of sessions of this county in 1890,
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and has filled all these offices with intelli- gence and ability, and given general satis- faction to the people. He is prominent in Masonry, and at present is master of cere- monies in Hartland Lodge, No. 218. He belongs to one of the old and prominent families of the county, and the blood of his ancestors has manifested itself in their worthy and popular scion. He has had all active business life, meeting with many re- verses in fortune, and has laid aside enough to put him beyond the reach of the wants of old age, but above all has won the esteem and good opinion of his fellow countrymen, and now in his advancing years no one enjoys their company more than he, and none stands higher socially in the town of Hartland. Surrounded by his children and his numerous friends, his declining years will be pleasantly spent in the old home- stead of his childhood, free from all care and anxiety.
OHN PIERCE BISHOP, proprietor of the New York street cooper shop in Lockport, a popular secret society man, and a useful citizen of Niagara county, is a son of Jolin Bishop, and was born September 6, 1844, in Kent county, England. John Bishop (grandfather) was a native of Eng- land, but emigrated to America in 1853, and located in the city of Buffalo, New York. He was a tailor by trade, but did not work at that business in this country. While herc he lived for the most part with one of his sons, Stephen Bishop, who had come from England and settled in Buffalo about 1847. Finally the old gentleman returned to England and dicd there. John Bishop (father) never left his native country, but is yet living there at the age of seventy- three years.
When only seven years of age John Pierce Bishop was brought by his uncle Stephen from his native place in England to the city of Buffalo, where he grew up and was educated in the common schools. After leaving school he learned the trade of cooper in Buffalo, and worked in that city until 1862, when he enlisted in the navy of the United States. He served one year, taking part in a number of skirmishes on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, but never received an injury and was never taken prisoner. He was at Island No. 10 during some of the fighting there, but his term of enlistment having expired, he was discharged from service in 1863, and re- turned to New York. His uncle having removed to St. Catharines, Canada, he also went to that place, where he worked for a year and a half. During his residence there he was married, and in 1866 removed to Lockport, this State, and worked at his trade for about eight years as a journeyman. He then opened a cooper shop on New York street, Lockport, and began business for himself. His trade has steadily increased, and he now employs about fourteen work- men, on an average, the year round. He has a handsome home, and is very com- fortably situated.
John Pierce Bishop was wedded to Anna Mary, daughter of William Begy, of St. Catharines, Canada, and to them was born three children : Carrie E., married Harvey J. Smith, an engineer in the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company, and residing at Rochester; Lotta E. and Edwin S., both living at home with their parents.
In politics Mr. Bishop is a democrat, and keeps well posted on current political move- ments in both parties. He is a member of Niagara Lodge, No. 276, Free and Accepted
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Masons; Ames Chapter, No. 88, Royal Arch Masons ; Bruce Council, No. 15, Royal and Select Masters; and Genesee Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar. He is also a member of Ishmalia Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Buffalo, and of the An- cient Order of United Workmen.
J AMES TAYLOR is one of those es- timable men who has, by the dint of industry, indomitable energy, and masterful application, made himself a real man in the labor and industrial world, from which comes all values and all prosperity. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Errin ) Taylor, and was born December 28, 1836, at Strat- ford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, England, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. His grandparents (maternal and paternal) were born in England, where they lived and died. William Taylor (father) was born at Strat- ford-upon-Avon about the year 1807, and died in 1881. He came to America in 1839, and located at Rochester, this State, but subsequently removed to Fredonia, Chau- tauqua county, New York, where he resided until his death. He learned the trades of stone and brick mason in England, which he followed, in connection with farming, all his life. In politics he was a whig, and took a deep interest in that old party. He was very much interested in agriculture, and kept himself fully abreast of the times in all things pertaining to its progress and science. He was an active member of the agricultural society of Chautauqua county. Ile married Elizabeth Errin, by whom he had ten children, six sons and four daughters. The sons are all dead except James, the subject of this sketch; and the daughters living are : Martha, married to Alfred Fry,
and they reside in Fredonia; and Emma, wife of Andrew Roar, of Dayton, Ohio.
James Taylor was educated in the com- mon schools, and after leaving school he learned the trade of a moulder in Rochester, this State, where he worked until twenty- three years of age. In 1860 he went to Canada, where he worked at his trade for a period of ten years, and then, in 1870, came to Lockport and engaged with' the Holly Manufacturing Company. After remaining with this firm for about one year he became foreman in the moulding department, and has continued to hold this position to the present time. It is a position laden with responsibility, the works being the largest of the kind in this part of the State. He has in his department about one hundred and ten men, and they manufacture the largest castings made in western New York.
He was united in marriage with Charlotte Godkin, a native of Whilby township, On- tario. Eight children have been born to them, four of whom are living: Thomas, a machinist by trade, is married, and lives in the city of Lockport, an employee of the Holly Manufacturing Company ; Mary E .; Edwin Godkin, a clerk in the post-office at Lockport; and Lottie. The four who died in infancy were : James B., John, George, and Benjamin.
In polities he is a republican, takes an active interest in all party matters, and has been, at different times, a delegate to repub- lican conventions. He is a member of the Baptist church, and of Lodge No. 73, Free and Accepted Masons, at Lockport, which fact speaks louder than any words of ours as to his social standing in the community in which he resides. He has risen to his present position in the world by his own industry and integrity, but the blood that
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courses through his veins comes from the eo-mingling of several of the best nation- alities that have inhabited the globe. IIe feels from that that he belongs to a race of people who have risen to the most exalted position among the nations of the earth, because of their love for and obedience to law, government, and order.
D' R. GEORGE H. EASTON, of Loek-
port, a scientifie and well-read veter- inary surgeon of twenty years' successful experience, is a son of Dr. George W. and Christina (Gregson ) Easton, and was born in the town of Shelby, Orleans county, New York, May 22, 1846. His paternal grand- father, George H. Easton, was a life-long resident of Lincolnshire, England, where he followed farming. He married, and had a family of three children, two sons and one daughter. One of the sons was Dr. George H. Easton (father), who left Lincolnshire, En- gland, at twenty-two years of age, to settle in the town of Shelby, Orleans county, this State, where he followed farming and prac- ticed his profession of veterinary surgeon. He purchased his land from the Holland Land Company, was a republican in pol- ities, and passed away in June, 1883, at the age of seventy-one years. His widow, whose maiden name was Christina Gregson, is now in the eightieth year of her age. Dr. and Mrs. Easton were the parents of four chil- dren : Mary, wife of Horace Roberts, a farmer of Orleans county; Melissa, who married William Smith, a farmer of the town of Shelby, Orleans county; George H .; and Frederick, who enlisted, in 1863, in the 151st regiment New York volunteer in- fantry, received seven bullet wounds at Cold Harbor, and was sent home, where he re-
covered, and afterwards died, in 1865, of typhoid fever.
George H. Easton was reared on the farm, received his education in the public schools of this State and the Albion sem- inary, and then entered a veterinary col- lege, where he took the full course. Having thus scientifically and thoroughly qualified himself for his chosen profession, he re- turned to Orleans county, where he practiced successfully until 1874. In that year he established himself in Loekport, and has been actively and successfully engaged there ever since. Asa veterinary surgeon he is well known for his ability and experience. He believes in the motto, " Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well," and gives his entire time to his profession.
On June 29, 1869, he married Ann Grin- nell, a daughter of Major Grinnell, and a member of one of the pioneer and highly respected families of the town of Shelby, this State. They have two children : Fred- erick, born January 8, 1877; and Charlie, born October 8, 1880.
In politics he supports the Republican party, but is no politician or office seeker.
C HARLES H. ASHFORD, proprietor
of the Sweeney house in the city of Lockport, and a popular and influential citizen of Niagara county, is a son of Wil- liam and Martha ( Ayer) Ashford, and was born in Drummondville, Ontario, Canada, January 27, 1852. The ancestors of Mr. Ashford on both sides were of English stock, and lived and died in that country. William Ashford (father) was born in En- gland about 1810, where he received a good education, and where he married Martha Ayer, by whom he had a family of nine
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OF NIAGARA COUNTY.
children : Martha, born in England, mar- ried Charles Thompson (who is now de- ceased), and lives in Lockport; Emma, also a native of England, who died about 1889; Sarah, born in the same country, married first time to Fred. Frolic, by whom she had five children, and after his death wedded Barney Crane, to whom was born four chil- dren, their place of residence now being Guelph, Canada; William H., who enlisted in the 12th New York cavalry near the be- ginning of the civil war, and served till its close-going in as a private, and being promoted successively to the positions of second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and cap- tain, with which latter rank he was mustered out of service, and is now deceased ; Thomas M., resides in the city of Lockport ; Richard D., also a resident of Lockport; John W., a hotel-keeper on Chestnut ridge, near Lockport; Charles H., the subject of this sketch ; and Arthur, who is engaged in the hotel business at Cambria, New York.
Charles H. Ashford received his educa- tion in the common schools of Lewiston and the Lockport Union school, obtaining in these institutions a thoroughly practical and very complete English education. By reading and study in such lines as interest him, he has added to his school instruction a general fund of knowledge on all leading questions and subjects. In 1874 he em- barked in the hotel business at the Sweeney house, on Market street, and has success- fully conducted it ever since. This house is well known and has a good reputation with the traveling public. The best efforts of its proprietor are always given to secure the comfort of guests, and thesc efforts are appreciated by the patrons of the Sweeney house, which is becoming very popular.
On August 15, 1867, Mr. Ashford was
united by marriage with Anna Morse, a daughter of John Morse, a native of Ire- land. She also was born on the Emerald Isle. To Mr. and Mrs. Ashford have been born four children: Ida, living at home; Nellie, now the wife of Ollie Moore, a mill- wright of the city of Lockport; William M. and Mary, both at home with their parents.
In his political affiliations Mr. Ashford has always been a democrat, and is active and earnest in his support of the cardinal principles of that party. He is one of the local leaders, and in 1886 and 1887 was elected and served as alderman from the second ward of the city of Lockport, giving general satisfaction to his people, and re- ceiving credit for energy and ability in the performance of his official duties.
WILLIAM L. HUGGINS, M. D., is a well and favorably known physician of this county, and an old and honored sol- dier of the civil war. He is a son of William W. and Almira (Pitt) Huggins, and was born at Roanoke, Devonshire, England. John R. Huggins (grandfather) was of Scotch descent, being born in Scotland, December 9, 1760, came to this country when but a boy, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He died in this State, in his ninety-first year. He married, and had eight children, one of whom was Wil- liam W. Huggins (father), who was born December 26, 1800, in the highlands of Scotland, and who devoted his whole life to stock-raising after he grew to manhood. IIe married Almira Pitt in 1824, by whom he had six children, three sons and three daughters : Franklin P., who died at three years of age; Maria L., married William
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